The first attempt to establish the Roanoke Colony was run by Ralph Lane after Sir Richard Grenville, who had transported the colonists to Virginia, returned to England for supplies. Unfortunately for the colonists, who were desperately in need of supplies, Grenville's return was delayed. As a result, when Sir Francis Drake put in at Roanoke after attacking the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, the entire population of the colony returned with Drake to England. In 1587, the English again attempted to settle Roanoke Island, led by John White. However, John White left the colony to return to England for supplies that he felt would help them to survive, expecting to return to Roanoke Island within 3 months. Instead, he found England at war with Spain, and all ships were confiscated for use of the war efforts. His return to Roanoke Island was delayed until 1590. When he finally returned, the colonists had disappeared. The only thing he found was the word "Croatoan" carved into a post of the fort and "Cro" carved into a nearby tree, telling about the Indians who lived close by. Their fate has never been authoritatively ascertained, and they became known as "The Lost Colony". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Island